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Rapid runoff via shallow throughflow and deeper preferential flow in a boreal catchment underlain by frozen silt (Alaska, USA)

Ecoulement rapide par conduit superficiel et flux profond préférentiel dans un bassin versant boréal sous-jacent à un silt gelé (Alaska, USA)

Escurrimiento rápido vía flujo horizontal somero y flujo preferencial más profundo en una cuenca boreal subyacente a sedimentos congelados (Alaska, EEUU)

美国阿拉斯加州冻土上北向流域内通过浅部径流和深部优先流实现的快速径流

Escoamento rápido via escoamento subsuperficial e fluxo preferencial profundo numa bacia boreal em siltes congelados (Alasca, EUA)

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Abstract

In high-latitude catchments where permafrost is present, runoff dynamics are complicated by seasonal active-layer thaw, which may cause a change in the dominant flowpaths as water increasingly contacts mineral soils of low hydraulic conductivity. A 2-year study, conducted in an upland catchment in Alaska (USA) underlain by frozen, well-sorted eolian silt, examined changes in infiltration and runoff with thaw. It was hypothesized that rapid runoff would be maintained by flow through shallow soils during the early summer and deeper preferential flow later in the summer. Seasonal changes in soil moisture, infiltration, and runoff magnitude, location, and chemistry suggest that transport is rapid, even when soils are thawed to their maximum extent. Between June and September, a shift occurred in the location of runoff, consistent with subsurface preferential flow in steep and wet areas. Uranium isotopes suggest that late summer runoff erodes permafrost, indicating that substantial rapid flow may occur along the frozen boundary. Together, throughflow and deep preferential flow may limit upland boreal catchment water and solute storage, and subsequently biogeochemical cycling on seasonal to annual timescales. Deep preferential flow may be important for stream incision, network drainage development, and the release of ancient carbon to ecosystems.

Résumé

Dans les bassins versants de haute latitude où le permafrost est présent, les dynamiques de lessivage et d’écoulement sont compliquées par le dégel saisonnier des couches productives, qui peut causer une modification des chenaux principaux si l’eau entre progressivement en contact avec des sols minéraux à conductivité hydraulique basse. Une étude de deux ans, menée sur un bassin versant de hautes terres en Alaska (USA) sous-jacent à silt éolien bien calibré gelé, a examiné les changements d’infiltration et d’écoulement avec la dégel. On a pris comme hypothèse qu’un écoulement rapide serait soutenu par un flux à travers des sols peu épais au cours du début de l’été et par un flux préférentiel profond plus tard durant l’été. Les variations saisonnières d’eau du sol, infiltration et intensité du ruissellement, localisation et chimie, suggèrent que le transport est rapide, même au maximum d’extension du dégel. Entre juin et septembre, l’emplacement de l’écoulement change, en rapport avec l’écoulement préférentiel de subsurface, dans les zones en pentes et humides. Des isotopes de l’uranium suggèrent que l’écoulement d’été tardif érode le permafrost, indiquant qu’un écoulement rapide substantiel peut savoir lieu le long de la limite gelée. Simultanément, l’écoulement superficiel et l’écoulement préférentiel profond peuvent limiter le bassin versant du plateau boréal et l’emmagasinement de soluté, et subséquemment le cycle biochimique aux échelles saisonnière à annuelle. L’écoulement profond préférentiel peut être important pour la coupure du flot, le développement du réseau de drainage et la restitution de carbone ancien à l’écosystème.

Resumen

En las cuencas de altas latitudes donde el permafrost está presente, la dinámica de lixiviación y escurrimiento se complican por el deshielo estacional de la capa activa, que puede causar un cambio en las trayectorias dominantes del flujo de agua cada vez más en contacto con suelos minerales de baja conductividad hidráulica. Un estudio de dos años de duración, realizado en una cuenca alta de Alaska (EEUU) sustentada por limos eólicos congelados, bien ordenados, examinó los cambios en la infiltración y el escurrimiento con el deshielo. La hipótesis fue que el escurrimiento rápido podría ser mantenido por el flujo a través de suelos someros a principios del verano y por el flujo preferencial más profundo después del verano. Los cambios estacionales en la humedad del suelo, infiltración, la magnitud del escurrimiento, la ubicación y la química sugieren que el transporte es rápido, incluso cuando los suelos están descongelados en su máxima extensión. Entre junio y septiembre se produjo un cambio en la ubicación del escurrimiento, consistente con el flujo subsuperficial preferencial de zonas escarpadas y húmedas. Los isótopos de uranio sugieren que a finales del verano el escurrimiento erosiona el permafrost, lo que indica que un sustancial flujo rápido puede ocurrir a lo largo del límite congelado. Conjuntamente, el flujo horizontal somero y el flujo profundo preferencial pueden limitar el agua de la cuenca boreal alta y el almacenamiento de solutos, y posteriormente el ciclo biogeoquímico en escalas de tiempo estacionales a anuales. El flujo profundo preferencial puede ser importante para la incisión corriente, para el desarrollo de la red de drenaje, y para la liberación de carbono antiguo a los ecosistemas

摘要

高纬度流域内的冻土永久存在,季节性活动层消融导致的淋滤及径流的动力学复杂,会引起由于水与低水力传导系数的矿质土壤接触增加而发生的主导流径的变化。美国阿拉斯加州山地流域下伏分选好的风成冻土,在该区对融水的渗透及径流变化监测两年。假定快速流可通过夏季初的浅层土壤以及夏季晚期的深层优先流维持。土壤水分、渗透量、径流量、位置以及化学结果的季节性变化表明即使土壤解冻到最大程度,径流也是迅速的。六月到九月,径流的位置存在转变,与陡湿区地下优先流相一致。铀同位素显示晚夏的径流消融了永久冻土,表明大量快速流在冻土边界发生。同时,浅部径流及深部优先流限制了山地北面流域中水及溶质的存储以及随后的季节及多年时间尺度上的生物地球化学循环。深部优先流对于河流切割、排水网络发育、以及古代碳向生态系统中的排放是有意义的。

Resumo

Nas bacias localizadas a altas latitudes onde ocorre permafrost, a dinâmica de lixiviação e de escoamento é dificultada pelo degelo sazonal da camada ativa, o qual pode causar uma mudança nos sentidos de fluxo dominantes enquanto a água aumenta o contacto com solos minerais de baixa condutividade hidráulica. Um estudo de dois anos realizado na cabeceira de uma bacia hidrográfica no Alasca (EUA) coberta por material congelado, siltes eólicos bem calibrados, observou variações na infiltração e no escoamento durante o degelo. Admitiu-se a hipótese que o escoamento rápido seria mantido pelo fluxo através dos solos superficiais durante o princípio do verão e que o fluxo preferencial mais profundo ocorreria no final do verão. As variações sazonais na grandeza da humidade do solo, da infiltração e do escoamento, na localização e no quimismo sugerem que o transporte é rápido, mesmo quando os solos sofrem descongelação na sua máxima extensão. Entre junho e setembro ocorreu um deslocamento da posição do escoamento, consistente com fluxo subsuperficial preferencial em áreas declivosas e húmidas. Os isótopos de urânio sugerem que o escoamento do fim do verão erode o permafrost, indicando que este fluxo rápido substancial pode ocorrer ao longo da fronteira de congelação. O escoamento subsuperficial e o fluxo preferencial profundo podem em conjunto limitar o armazenamento de água e de solutos nas bacias superiores em zonas boreais e, subsequentemente, o ciclo biogeoquímico às escalas sazonal a anual. O fluxo preferencial profundo pode ser importante para a incisão das linhas de água, o desenvolvimento da rede de drenagem e a libertação do carbono antigo para os ecossistemas.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a National Science Foundation grant, OCE-BE 0628348 to Q. Zhuang. We thank P. Schuster and C. Hart for laboratory analysis of the bromide tracer, and J. Paces for assisting with the U isotope analysis. B. Rajagopalan and K. Bencala provided invaluable discussions on the data and results. Field support was provided by K. Wickland, R. Runkel, K. Kelsey, M. Bourret, D. Halm, M. Dornblaser, G. Aiken, and R. Spencer. The manuscript was significantly improved through reviews by B. Ebel and two anonymous reviewers. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the view of the National Science Foundation or US Geological Survey. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Dr. , Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA

    J. C. Koch

  2. Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, P. O. Box 173120, Bozeman, MT, 59717-3120, USA

    S. A. Ewing

  3. US Geological Survey, Branch of Regional Research, 3215 Marine St, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA

    R. Striegl

  4. Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, P.O. Box 450, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA

    D. M. McKnight

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Published in the theme issue “Hydrogeology of Cold Regions”

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Koch, J.C., Ewing, S.A., Striegl, R. et al. Rapid runoff via shallow throughflow and deeper preferential flow in a boreal catchment underlain by frozen silt (Alaska, USA). Hydrogeol J 21, 93–106 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0934-3

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